Component retaping machine

ABSTRACT

This invention relates generally to production machinery used in manufacturing electrical circuit boards, and in particular to a machine for producing a continuous strip conveyor package for feeding quantities of electronic components into automatic component insertion equipment.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 188,967 filedSept. 19, 1980 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,556.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the automatic manufacture of certain types of electroniccomponents, especially capacitors, the components are organized in alinear array on a disposable strip of chipboard or tagboard. Thesestrips are an integral part of the capacitor manufacturing process. Thestrips are fed into a wire-forming machine. The machine cuts off lengthsof wire from reeled stock, forms each length into a pair of "radial"capacitor leads, and deposits the leads at successive locations alongthe length of the strip. The leads are then fastened in place, usuallyby pressing a ribbon of adhesive tape thereover. During subsequent stepsin the manufacture of the capacitors (such as insertion of a dielectricdisk between the ends of the pair of leads), the strips serve asconveyors for the capacitors. Sprocket holes may be punched in thestrips, and they are fed through the machinery by suitable sprocketdrives. The following U.S. Patents show capacitor producing machinery ofthe general type just described: Heibel No. 2,766,510; Packman No.2,929,130; Weiss No. 3,091,835; Dian No. 3,215,168; and Masuzima No.4,192,061.

After the capacitors are finished, each strip is fed into an electricaltesting device, which detects and removes any capacitors that are notacceptable from an electrical point of view. The output of the testingdevice is a strip having a gap at each place where a defective capacitorhas been detected.

The capacitors must eventually be fed into an automatic insertionmachine, which inserts them into printed circuit boards at the properlocations. But the strips which emerge from the testing machines are notsuitable for direct input to the insertion machines. One reason for thisis the presence of the gaps where the defective capacitors have beeneliminated. Therefore the capacitors which pass their electrical testare removed from their old, gap-filled strip and remounted upon a newstrip in consecutive order, i.e. without gaps. A machine which transferscapacitors from one strip to another and fastens them with a ribbon ofadhesive tape is sometimes referred to as a "retaper".

In some cases there is also another reason for transferring or retapingthe capacitors. Some capacitor-manufacturing machines mount thecapacitors on short, discontinuous strips. But component insertionmachines are designed to receive long, continuous strips wound uponreels. In addition to being short, the discontinuous strips are normallymade of a thick chipboard material which would be too stiff to wind onreels even if the strips were longer. Thus a retaper transfers thecapacitors from short, stiff chipboard strips to a much longer stripmade of a more flexible material, such as tagboard, which is then woundupon a reel.

At least one retaper machine is known to be currently available on theworld market. This prior art machine uses a plurality of successivelyoperating puller devices to exert a frictional force on the heads ofsuccessive capacitors, thereby removing them from the chipboard strips.The design of these puller devices is such that the thickness dimensionof the heads of the capacitors, and the distances from the capacitorheads to the edges of the chipboard strips, must both be withinrelatively tight tolerances. There is no provision for changing thepuller devices to adapt to different types of capacitors. After beingpulled from the old strips, the capacitors are allowed to drop in arelatively uncontrolled fashion upon the new strip, to which they areretaped. An indexing wheel is transversely grooved to engage the wireleads of the capacitors at one edge of the new strip. But at the otheredge such engagement is not possible, because the ends of the wire leadsare prematurely trimmed off where they overhang the tagboard strip.Moreover, the feeding of the ribbon of adhesive tape is not positivelysynchronized with the indexing wheel. After the new strip leaves theindexing wheel, the subsequent drive is purely frictional, even thoughsprocket drive holes are later punched in the strip for use after thestrip leaves the retaping machine and is fed into the automaticinsertion equipment. The machine also requires many differentadjustments to accommodate itself to different capacitor sizes, andcannot be adjusted at all to accommodate different capacitor spacings onthe old strips.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of this invention is to provide a retaping machine whichis superior in several respects to the prior art. In particular theinvention contemplates the use of a single puller tool which repeatedlyrecycles for each successive capacitor, and which positively engages thecapacitor rather than exerting a merely frictional pull thereon. Thelatter feature eliminates the possibility that a capacitor will sliploose from the puller device. It also enables the machine to work withcapacitors of any head thickness. The repeating feature reduces thenumber of such tools needed, and thus makes it simple to change tools toaccommodate different types and sizes of capacitors. When straight leadcapacitors are employed, the machine can use a puller tool designed toengage the capacitor head; but when kinked lead capacitors are employed,the machine can conveniently be switched over to a different puller toolthat engages the kinks in the leads, which is preferable because thereis less risk of damage to the capacitors. The tools are also designed toengage the capacitors in such a way that the distance from the capacitorhead to the edge of the strip is less critical. After being pulled fromthe old strip the capacitors are positively controlled during transportto the new strip, instead of merely being allowed to drop onto the newstrip gravitationally. The trimming of the wire leads ends is postponeduntil after the new strip leaves the grooved indexing wheel, so that thegrooves can engage the lead wires at both edges of the strip for morepositive control. After the new strip and tape ribbon leave the indexingwheel, sprocket holes are punched therein; and a sprocket wheel is thenused right in the retaping machine for driving purposes. As a result,the feeding of the adhesive tape ribbon is positively synchronized withthe rotation of the indexing wheel. The machine also readilyaccommodates any desired spacing between the capacitors on the oldstrips.

In accordance with one feature of this invention, apparatus is providedfor removing components from a carrier strip. This apparatus comprisesmeans for receiving a carrier strip having at least one radial leadcomponent releasably secured thereto. The component includes a body anda pair of spaced leads extending in substantially parallel relation fromthe component body. The component body and the adjacent portions of theleads extend in a lateral direction relative to the input carrier stripand beyond one edge thereof. A puller tool means is provided, which isinitially located out of the plane of the input carrier strip, andincludes puller projection means extending generally toward that plane.Transport means are provided for transporting the puller tool toward theplane, inserting the puller projection into an entry space bounded bythe component body and the laterally extending portion of the leads, ina manner to engage laterally against some portion of the component, andthereafter transporting the puller tool in the lateral direction wherebyto pull the component laterally free of the input carrier strip. Thisstructure provides positive rather than merely frictional engagement ofthe puller tool with the component, and thus operates more reliably inextracting the components from the input carrier strip.

According to another aspect of the invention, apparatus for removingcomponents from a carrier strip comprises means for receiving agenerally horizontally oriented carrier strip having at least onecomponent thereon. The component includes a body and at least one leadextending from the body transversely across an upper surface of thecarrier strip. The carrier strip also has means releasably securing thelead to the carrier strip surface. Means are provided for pulling thecomponent transversely from the releasable securing means In addition,restraining means are provided which are effective to stabilize thecomponent as it is pulled free. This has the advantage of not allowingthe components to fall qravitationally in an uncontrolled fashion afterthey are extracted from the input carrier strip.

According to another aspect of the invention, apparatus for removingcomponents from a carrier strip comprises means for receiving a carrierstrip having a plurality of components releasably secured thereto atlocations spaced along the length of the strip. There is a componentremoval station, and means for advancing the carrier strip past thecomponent removal station whereby to present successive componentsthereto. Means are provided at the component removal station forremoving the components from the strip. Such means includes only asingle puller tool adapted to engage a component in a manner suitablefor exerting a pulling force thereon, and transport means arranged tooperate repeatedly to move the puller tool into operative engagementwith each of the components in succession and to retract the puller toolwhile so engaged, whereby to pull each of the components in successionfree of the carrier strip. Because of the fact that only a single,repetitively operated puller tool is employed, instead of a plurality ofpuller tools successively operated, it is possible for the puller toolto be easily removable and replaceable. This in turn permits convenientinterchangeability, so that different tools can be used for differentsizes and types of electronic components at different times.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a machine forrepackaging components is provided which comprises means for receivingan input carrier having a plurality of components releasably securedthereto. The machine also has a component removal station, and means fortransporting the input carrrier through the component removal station topresent each of the components successively thereto. There is acomponent receiving station in the machine, and normally inactive meansfor transporting an output carrier strip through the receiving station.Means are provided for removing the components in succession from theinput carrier at the removal station and depositing them in successionupon the output carrier strip at the receiving station. In addition,means are provided for detecting each component upon removal from theinput carrier and activating the output carrier strip transport means toadvance the output carrier strip a pre-selected distance in responsethereto. As a result, the output carrier strip is advanced inpreparation for receiving a new component when and only when thepresence of such new component has actually been confirmed by thedetecting means. If there are any component gaps in the input carrier(which is frequently the case, since the component testing processgenerally results in a few rejections) then the input carrier isadvanced through each capacitor gap without any corresponding movementof the output carrier strip. The output carrier strip is not advancedagain until the next filled component position of the input carrierarrives. Thus there are no component gaps in the output carrier strip.

Finally, in accordance with another aspect of this invention, a machinefor repackaging components is provided which comprises means forreceiving an input carrier having at least one component releasablysecured thereto. The component includes at least one lead. The machinehas a repackaging station, and means for advancing the output carrierstrip lengthwise through the repackaging station. The strip must have awidth smaller than the length of the component lead. The strip advancingmeans includes a drive member in juxtaposition with the strip, andmotive means for displacing the drive member lengthwise of the strip.The surface of the drive member which is juxtaposed to the strip has adimension widthwise of the strip which is greater than the width of thestrip, and also has groove means extending across the jaxtaposed surfacethereof in a direction widthwise of the strip. The groove means ispositioned on each side of the strip. Means are provided for removingthe component from the input carrier and depositing it upon the portionof the strip which is juxtaposed to the drive member with the componentlead oriented widthwise of the strip and extending beyond both edges ofthe strip and received within the groove means on both sides of thestrip. As a result, the drive member is coupled to the component. Meansare also provided for securing the component to the strip so that thecomponent contributes to the advancement of the strip in response to thedisplacement of the drive member. As a result of this structure, thecomponent is coupled at both edges of the strip in such a manner as toprovide a driving connection thereto. This arrangement is consideredsuperior to a single-sided drive coupling.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment, when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial front elevational view of a retaping machine inaccordance with this invention, showing all of the major subsystemsthereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of some of the subsystems seen in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is a sectional view taken along the lines 2A--2A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the component removal station of thismachine, seen during the component removal operation.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the apparatus at a laterstage of the component removal procedure.

FIG. 4A is a close-up perspective view of a component in the process ofbeing removed, together with a component puller tool and a pair ofrestraining tongues which cooperate therewith.

FIG. 4B is a fragmentary perspective view of the component beingdeposited at a repackaging station, showing two positions of one of therestraining tongues of the previous figure.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an input carrier strip containing aplurality of spaced electronic components.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a puller tool designed for pullingcertain types of components from the input carrier strip.

FIG. 6A is a front elevational view of the puller tool of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the component engagement claw of thepuller tool of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another type ofcomponent puller tool.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the component engagement claw of thepuller tool in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of still another type ofcomponent puller tool.

FIG. 8A is a bottom plan view of the component engagement claw of thetool of FIG. 8.

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the same component engagement claw.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of yet another componentpuller tool.

FIG. 9A is a bottom elevational view of the component engagement claw ofthe tool in FIG. 9.

FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the same component engagement claw.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a component puller tool and itsassociated actuating linkage, seen at a stage of operation just prior toengagement with a component which is to be removed from an input carrierstrip.

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10, except that it show the puller tool andactuating linkage at the time of engagement of the tool with thecomponent.

FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 11, except that it shows the puller tool andactuating linkage at a stage of operation when the component has beenremoved from the input carrier strip and is being deposited upon anoutput carrier strip.

FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 12, except that it shows the puller tool andactuating linkage at a time when the component has been deposited uponthe output carrier strip and the puller tool has been withdrawn fromengagement therewith.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the mechanism for sensing the removal of acomponent.

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the same mechanism.

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the same mechanism.

FIG. 17A is a top plan view of the upper component restraining mechanismof this machine.

FIG. 17B is a front elevational view of this mechanism.

FIG. 17C is a sectional taken along the lines 17C--17C of FIG. 17B.

FIG. 18A is a top plan view of the lower component restraining mechanismof this machine.

FIG. 18B is a front elevational view of the same mechanism.

FIG. 18C is a side elevational view of the same mechanism.

FIG. 19 is a front elevational view of the sprocket hole punchingmechanism of this machine.

FIG. 20 is a front elevational view of the retaping mechanism of thismachine.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a component as it makesthe transition from the upper restraining mechanism to the retapingmechanism.

FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of the wire lead cutting mechanism ofthis machine.

FIG. 23 is an overall perspective view of the mechanical drive train ofthe machine, with supporting elements omitted for clarity ofillustration, and certain electrical controls illustrated schematically.

FIG. 24 is a rear elevational view of the intermittent advancingmechanism for the indexing wheel of this machine.

FIG. 24A is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of the ratchetand pawl mechanism employed by the aforesaid intermittent advancingmechanism.

FIG. 25 is a top plan view of a portion of the retaping machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the front panel 30 of the retaping machine, together with anumber of mechanisms mounted thereon and visible from outside themachine. A receiving shelf 32 is oriented horizontally and jutsforwardly from the front panel 30 to receive a succession of inputcarrier strips 34 which are manually placed on the shelf by the operatorof the machine. A more detailed view of the input carrier strip 34 isseen in FIG. 5. The strip comprises a length of stiff chipboard 36 and arow of components such as capacitors 38A, B, etc. which are secured tothe strip by a length of adhesive tape 40.

Referring one again to FIG. 1, a continuously operating feed mechanism42 draws the input strip 34 in the direction indicated by arrow 43, anddelivers it to a capacitor removal station 44. At this station there islocated a mechanism which removes each capacitor 38 in turn and depositsit upon a continuous output carrier strip of more flexible tagboardmaterial 48 which comes from a supply reel 50 and is fed over the top ofan indexing wheel 46 at a repackaging station 47. Various capacitorrestraining means 52 and 54 assist in lowering the capacitors 38 fromthe input carrier strip 34 to the output carrier strip 48. A guide shoe56 holds the capacitors in place as the index wheel 46 moves them intoposition to be retaped to the strip at a retaping station 58, using astrip of adhesive tape 60, either of the pressure-sensitive or thethermal type, which comes off a supply reel 62.

After retaping, the output carrier strip 48, with the capacitors 38 andadhesive tape 60 attached thereto, is fed through a sprocket holepunching station 62. This provides the output carrier strip and adhesivewith a series of sprocket holes which permit it to be driven by asprocket drive wheel 64. Thereafter the strip passes through a cuttingstation 66 where the ends of the wire leads of the capacitors aretrimmed off. After leaving the cutting station, the output strip passesunder a guide shoe 68 and is reeled up upon a take-up reel 70. There itis interleaved with an intervening strip of protective paper 72 whichcomes from another supply reel (not shown). When the adhesive tape 60 isof the thermal type, a retaping wheel 74 must be heated by electriccurrent provided by a wire 76. The temperature of the heater wheel ismonitored by a suitable measuring device and read out upon a panelthermometer 78.

Each of the various operating stations and sub-assemblies referred toabove will now be descirbed individually and in greater detail. Withreference especially to FIGS. 2 through 4B, the input carrier strips 34come in discrete lengths and generally have a few gaps or emptycapacitor locations 80 interspersed with the capacitors 38. In addition,the chipboard material 36 (see FIG. 5) which forms the backbone of theinput carrier strips is a relatively stiff material unsuitable forreeling up. The purpose of the present machine, therefore, is to removethe capacitors 38 from the input carrier strip 34, ignoring all gaps ormissing capacitor locations 80, and to remount these capacitors ingapless succession upon the continuous output carrier strip 48. Thelatter is made of a more flexible tagboard material which lends itselfto packaging in the form of a continuous reel.

As each individual discrete length of input strip 34 is placed upon theshelf 32, it is captured and advanced in the direction indicated byarrow 82 by a conveyor comprising a timing belt 84 and a pair of gearwheels 86 and 88, one of which is driven by a motor and drive train.Since the motor and drive train are entirely conventional and form nopart of the inventive concept herein, they are not shown in thedrawings. A pressure foot 90 is mounted upon a supporting structure 92for vertical movement relative thereto by a pair of stripper bolts (notvisible), received within respective coil springs 96 which bias thepressure foot downwardly against the conveyor belt 84. A pair of pins 94guide the vertical motion of the pressure foot. The downward spring biasserves to keep the belt 84 pressed into operative engagement with theinput carrier strip 34. A depending barrier wall 97 depends from aprotective housing 99. The barrier wall depends low enough to preventmore than one input carrier strip 34 from being seized by the belt 84 atany one time. The housing protects the operator's hand from the timingbelt 84 and its drive wheel 86.

The machine must have some means of determining whether a particularcapacitor location on an input carrier strip 34 is occupied by acapacitor 38 or is in fact a gap 80. In addition, since the inputcarrier strips 34 are placed on the shelf 32 manually, at certain timesthere may be no input strip and therefore no capacitors 38 in themachine at all. Accordingly a light source 98 powered by an electricalwire 100 shines a beam of light through the location at which eachsuccessive capacitor 38 is presented to the removal station 44. Aphotocell 102 senses the light beam from the source 98 and provides anelectrical output on a wire 104. Whenever one of the capacitors 38breaks the light beam, the photocell 102 stops the conveyor mechanism 42and activates the capacitor pulling mechanism.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the capacitor pulling mechanism atstation 44 comprises a pair of upper drive bars 106A and 106B which arespaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction, as well as apair of lower drive bars 108A and 108B. (Drive bar 108A is visible inFIGS. 10 through 13, but not in FIGS. 3 and 4.) The lower bars 108A andB are located directly below their corresponding upper bars 106A and Brespectively, and thus are also spaced apart from each other in thehorizontal direction. All four drive bars 106A, B and 108A, Breciprocate horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the machinefront panel 30 (see arrows 109), and carry with them a capacitor pullingtool 110 which is disposed within the space between the drive bars 106A,108A and the drive bars 106B, 108B, and is pivotally secured thereto. Asseen in FIGS. 3 and 4, and particularly in FIG. 4A, the lower portion ofthe capacitor pulling tool 110 has a claw 112 which is adapted to engageeach capacitor 38 in turn and extract it from the input carrier strip34.

Note that, as best seen in FIG. 5, each capacitor 38A, 38B, etc,includes a head 114 and a pair of stiff wire leads 116. Conventionally,the head portion 114 of each capacitor includes a dielectric which isinserted between a pair of wire electrodes and encased in a suitableinsulating outer material to form the head 114 of the capacitor. Theleads 116 are the extensions of the electrodes which emerge from thecapacitor heads 114. This machine is designed to work only withcapacitors or other components which have the so-called radial leadconfiguration, i.e. wire leads 116 extending in the same direction fromthe head wire leads 114. With components of this type, the leads 116 arespaced apart, thus defining an access opening 118 bounded by the leads116 and the head 114 of each capacitor 38. The depending claw 112 of thecapacitor puller tool 110 is designed to be inserted into this accessopening 118 for the purpose of getting a grip upon the head or leads ofthe capacitor 38 so that it can be pulled from the input carrier strip34. The direction of pulling (which is also the direction in which thecapacitor heads 114 and leads 116 extend from the edge of the inputcarrier strips 34), is lateral, or transversely to the length of theimput carrier strips, as indicated by arrows 120 in FIGS. 3, 4, 4A and5.

During operation of this machine, capacitors all of the same type wouldnormally be mounted on each individual input carrier strip 34, andindeed on a great many consecutive input carrier strips which are fedinto the machine during any one series of capacitor retaping operations.There are, however, a number of different types of capacitor head andlead configurations to which this machine is adaptable. In order toillustrate the major types of capacitors, FIG. 5 has been drawn asthough a single input carrier strip 34 might contain different types.Capacitor 38A has the standard CK05 configuration for the head 114, andhas a pair of leads 116 which are bent outwardly. The reason for thebent lead configuration is to permit a standard spacing between theleads 116 to be used with the CK05 type of head, which has a widthsmaller than the standard lead spacing. Capacitor 38B has the standardCK06 type of head configuration, which is larger than the CK05.Accordingly, there is no need to bend the leads 116, and these arestraight. Capacitors 38C and 38D have leads configurations which arekinked outwardly. The leads of capacitor 38E, on the other hand, arekinked first inwardly and then outwardly. Finally, capacitor 38F, likecapacitor 38B, has straight leads.

Differently shaped capacitor puller tools 110 are required for thevarious different capacitor configurations which may be encountered atdifferent times. The capacitor puller tool 110.1 depicted in FIGS. 6, 6Aand 6B, for example, has upper and lower pivot pin openings 122 and 124and a depending claw 112 which is designed to engage the access opening118 of certain capacitor types, namely the capacitors 38C, D and Ehaving pairs of outwardly kinked leads 116. The depending claw 112 isformed with a pair of grooves 126 which are designed to receive the leadwires 116 as illustrated in FIG. 6B. As a result, the depending claw 112is divided into a central tooth segment 112A and a pair of side toothsegments 112B on either side thereof. The central tooth segment 112A isthe part which actually enters the access opening 118 between thecapacitor leads 116. The side tooth segments 112B flank the oppositesides of the capacitor leads 116, and provide increased lateralpositioning control over the capacitor. In addition, a dependinghorizontal bar 128 is located rearwardly of the claw 112. This bar restsatop the capacitor leads 116 and also serves to improve control of thecapacitor 38 during the pulling operation, as will be more fullyexplained below.

There are three other types of puller tools illustrated in FIGS. 7 and7A, FIGS. 8, 8A, and 8B, and in FIGS. 9, 9A and 9B. All four types ofpuller tools are similar in their general structure, but they differ inthe type of capacitor which they are adapted to pull. In particular theydiffer as to the part of the capacitor against which the pulling forceis exerted. Specifically, the central tooth segment 112A of thecapacitor puller tool 110.1 in FIGS. 6, 6A and 6B is designed to exertits pulling force against the curved portions 116A which are formed inthe kinked wire leads 116 of capacitors 38C, D and E. The advantage ofexerting the pulling forces against a curved portion 116A of the wireleads is that it avoids exerting those pulling forces upon the capacitorhead 114, and thus lowers the risk of damage to the capacitor.Similarly, the central tooth segment 112A of tool 110.3 illustrated inFIGS. 8, 8A and 8B is designed to exert its pulling force upon the bentlead portions 116B of capacitor 38A.

When necessary, however, the puller tool 110 can be designed so that thecentral tooth segment 112A exerts its pulling force upon the head 114.This is the situation illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 7A, where the pullingforce is exerted by tool 110.2 against the head of a straight leadcapacitor 38B, and again in FIGS. 9, 9A and 9B where the pulling forceis exerted by tool 110.4 against the head of a straight lead capacitor38F.

In order to change over this machine from a production run of one typeof capacitor 38 to another type, it is only necessary to change a singlecapacitor pulling tool 110 from one type illustrated herein to anothertype illustrated herein.

The puller tool is mounted between the upper drive bars 106A and B andbetween the lower drive bars 108A and B. It is pivotally connected tothe upper bars by a pin 158 passing through opening 122, and to thelower bars by a pin 150 passing through opening 124. In order to removeand replace a tool 110, it is only necessary to knock out pins 150 and158, extract the tool 110 from between the bars, replace it with anotherone, and reinsert the pins. The fact that only one tool 110 is needed atany one time avoids the need for removing and replacing a plurality ofpuller tools.

The drive mechanism for the puller tool 110 is best appreciated fromFIGS. 10 through 13 and 23. (In FIGS. 10-13 the drive bars on one sideof the mechanism, bars 106B and 108B, are removed for clarity ofillustration. The missing bars are, however, visible in FIGS. 2 through4.) The lower drive bars 108A and 108B are mounted upon a pair of rockermembers 130 and are pivotally connected thereto by pivot pins 132. Theserocker members 130, in turn, are pivotally mounted upon some portion ofthe frame of the machine (not shown) by means of shafts 134. The rockingmotion of the two members 130 about their shafts 134 allows the drivebars 108A and B to reciprocate back and forth in a generally horizontaldirection as indicated by the double arrow 109 in FIG. 23. The drivingforce for this reciprocating motion comes from a reciprocating drivelink 136 which is pivotally connected by a pin 138 to a crank 140. Thecrank in turn is fixedly connected to a shaft 142 which rotates asindicated by arrow 143. The reciprocating drive link is pivotallyconnected by means of a pin 144 to the end of a rocking drive link 146.The mid-section of this link is pivotally connected by means of a pin148 to the rear ends of the two lower drive bars 108A and B. As therotary drive shaft 142 turns, the crank 140 reciprocates the drive link136, and thereby causes the rocking drive link 146 to reciprocate thedrive bars 108A and B.

As these bars reciprocate, the rocking support members 130 rotate backand forth. When, in the course of this motion, they reach an uprightposition (FIG. 10), they raise the lower drive bars 108A and B to aheight such that the puller tool 110 is lifted up above the plane of thecapacitors 38 which are on the shelf 32. At this time the puller tool110 is also slightly to the rear of a capacitor head 114, and tilted soas to lift the claw 112.

The function of the upper drive bars 106A and B is to insert the centraltooth segment 112A into, and extract it from, the access opening 118 bytilting the puller tool 110. These upper bars are pivotally connected bymeans of a pivot pin 156 to the upper end of the rocking drive link 146.In addition, the forward ends of the upper drive bars are pivotallyconnected to the upper end of the puller tool 110 by means of a pin 158which passes pivotally through the opening 122 thereof. Because pivotalconnection 144 is offset from pivot pin 148, reciprocation of link 136causes link 146 to rotate about pivot pin 148.

As the drive link 136 pushes lower drive bars 108A and B forwardly fromthe position of FIG. 10 to that of FIG. 11, this motion causes thepuller tool 110 to move closer to the capacitor head 114. At the sametime, the rotary motion of the rocking support members 130 causes thepuller tool 110 to be lowered toward the capacitor 38. In addition, thedrive link 136 rotates the link 146 about its center pivot pin 148 in acounterclockwise direction relative to the view of FIG. 23, thus movingupper drive bars 106 rearwardly relative to lower drive bars 108. As aresult, pin 158 causes puller tool 110 to rotate (counterclockwiserelative to the view of FIG. 23, but clockwise relative to the view ofFIGS. 10-13). This rotation of the puller tool 110, which is apparentfrom a comparison of the initial position in FIG. 10 with the fullyrotated position of FIG. 11, further lowers the claw 112.

The described lowering of the tool 110 in general and of the claw 112 inparticular continues until the central tooth segment 112A thereof entersinto the access opening 118 (FIG. 5), as seen in FIGS. 6B, 7A, 8B, 9Band 11. At this point the central tooth segment 112A is lodged behindeither the capacitor head 114, in the case of a straight lead capacitor,or is lodged behind a bent portion of the leads such as 116A or B (FIG.5) in the case of a bent or kinked lead capacitor.

In either case, the fact that the central tooth segment 112A is lodgeddirectly behind some portion of the capacitor 38 enables the tool 110 toexert a positive pulling force upon the capacitor 38, as opposed tomerely a frictional drag. The problem with prior art capacitor pullingtools, which depend upon frictional drag, is that if the capacitor issomewhat undersized, or if the pulling mechanism has become worn overtime, it is possible for the pulling mechanism to lose its grip and slipoff the capacitor without extracting it successfully from the inputcarrier strip 34. The positive engagement of the central tooth segment112A prevents that from happening.

Once the central tooth segment 112A has been firmly lodged behind thecapacitor head 114 or the bent or kinked portion of the leads 116,further forward movement (arrow 120 in FIGS. 3 and 12) of the lowerdrive bars 108A and B causes the puller tool 110 to extract thecapacitor 38 laterally from the input carrier strip 34. The adhesivetape 40 which holds the capacitors 38 to the tagboard strip 36 is notstrong enough to resist this force. After extraction the capacitor 38 ismoved horizontally forwardly from the shelf 32 (see FIG. 11) to theindex wheel 46 (see FIG. 12). At the same time, continued rotation ofthe rocking support members 130 causes the drive bars to move downwardlyfrom the level of the shelf 32 to that of the indexing wheel 46. As aresult, the pulling tool 110 not only transports the capacitor 38 in thehorizontal direction, but also allows it to be lowered onto the outputcarrier strip 48 covering the indexing wheel 46.

During the forward stroke of the lower drive bars 108A and B and thepuller tool 110 (arrow 120), the reciprocating drive link 136 is thrustin a forward direction by the crank 140. This causes the rocking drivelink 146 to rotate counterclockwise (relative to the view of FIG. 23)about its central pivot pin 148, assuming the position seen in thatview. As a result, link 146 pulls the upper drive bars 106A and B into arearwardly retracted position, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 through 12 and23, relative to the lower drive bars 108A and B, owing to the pivotalconnection 156 between the upper bars and the link 146.

But at the conclusion of this forward stroke, the crank 140 begins todraw the reciprocating link 136 rearwardly (arrow 160). Owing to thepivotal connection 156, this advances the upper drive bars 106A and Brelative to the lower bars 108A and B, as indicated by the arrow 162 inFIG. 13. Consequently, the pin 158 then causes the upper end of thepuller tool 110 to be thrust forwardly, and the entire tool 110 torotate about pivot pin 150. The direction of rotation, as indicated byarrow 164, is now from the phantom position of puller tool 110 to itssolid line position in FIG. 13. This causes the depending claw 112 to belifted up out of engagement with the capacitor 38 (i.e., puller tool 110returns to its initial position seen in FIG. 10). Consequently thepuller tool 110 and its drive bars 106A, B and 108A, B can then bepulled rearwardly by the crank 140 and drive link 136 without disturbingthe capacitor 38 which has just been deposited upon the output carrierstrip 48 and indexing wheel 46.

Power to drive the shaft 142 comes from a conventional continuouslyrunning electric motor 164. The motor is turned on and off by aswitching circuit 166. A motor output pulley 168 drives a takeoff shaft170 by means of a belt 172 and a driven pulley 174. Gears 176 and 178transfer power to a shaft 180 and a gear 182. The latter drives a timingbelt 184 and a gear 186. The latter, via a shaft 188, energizes a wrapspring clutch mechanism 190. The latter is a one-shot one-way clutchmechanism which normally declutches driving shaft 188 from driven shaft142; but connects them for one rotation each time a suitable electricalimpulse is received by a solenoid 192 to actuate a pawl 194. This pawltemporarily activates the clutch mechanism 190, causing it to drive theshaft 142 through one complete revolution. Wrap spring clutches and pawlmechanisms of the kind described herein are standard components,available from (among others) the P.S.I. Divison of Warner ElectricCompany, Pitman, New Jersey.

The releasing signal for the solenois 192 arrives over a line 196 from acontroller circuit 198 every time the latter is actuated by an impulsearriving over a line 200 from the capacitor sensing photocell 102. Thus,every time a new capacitor 38 moves into position to be extracted fromthe input strip 34 by the capacitor pulling mechanism 44, the light beamis interrupted, the photocell 102 sends an impulse to the controllingcircuit 198, causing the solenoid 192 to release the wrap spring clutch190, and a complete turn of the drive shaft 142 ensues. Each turn ofthat shaft produces one full cycle of forward and rearward motion of thedrive bars 106 and 108, causing the puller tool 110 to go through themotions necessary to extract one capacitor 38 and then return to itsoriginal position to await the arrival of the next capacitor.

It is not considered satisfactory merely to allow the capacitors 38 tobe pulled horizontally from the input carrier strip 34 and dropped ontothe output carrier strip 48 and indexing wheel 46 by the puller tool110. One of the features of the invention is that the downward motion ofthe capacitors 38 which deposits them upon the output carrier strip iscarefully controlled, not a gravitational free fall.

The first of several restraining means which control the capacitors isthe horizontal bar 128 located at the lower end of the capacitor pullingtool 110, and to the rear of the depending claw 112 thereof. As bestseen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shelf 32 is formed with a curved edge 32Awhich narrows the horizontal width of the shelf at the point where thecapacitors 38 approach the puller tool 110. Thus, as successivecapacitors move into position to be extracted from the input carrierstrip 34, the capacitor head 114 and the adjacent portion of the leads116 extend forwardly from the shelf 32, and are no longer supportedthereby. This is necessary to permit the depending claw 112 of thepuller tool 110 to enter the access space 118 without striking the shelf32. But it also creates a problem, in that the capacitor 38 is in dangerof falling headfirst off the shelf 32 once it has been pulled free ofthe restraining influence of the adhesive tape 40. The restraining bar128 helps to prevent this from happening.

As the puller tool 110 is lowered into engagement with the capacitor 38,portions of the leads 116 located somewhat behind the head 114 areengaged and held down by the bar 128, preventing the entire capacitor 38from falling off the curved front edge 32A of the same shelf 32.

The second means for restraining the capacitor 38, as it is pulled fromthe input carrier strip 34, is a supporting blade 202 which is normallypositioned to engage the underside of the capacitor head 114, and thusprevents it from tipping downwardly and causing the entire capacitor totumble off the shelf. See FIGS. 4, 4A, 18, 18A and 18B. This blade isattached, by means of a bolt 203, to the underside of a carrier arm 204.This arm in turn is affixed to a pin 205 which is pivotally supportedupon a mounting block 206. The block is fixedly secured to one of thelower puller tool drive bars 108B by bolts 207. Above the block 206 adriven link 208 is fixedly secured to the upper end of the pin 205.Since mounting block 206 is secured to the drive bar 108B, and carriesthe link 206, pin 205, arm 204 and blade 202 with it, this entireassembly recpirocates with the drive bar 108B as it goes through itspuller tool drive cycle described above. Therefore, as the puller tool110 extracts each capacitor 38 from the input carrier strip, thesupporting blade 202 moves in step with the capacitor, and remains insupporting relationship below the capacitor head 114.

But at the end of each capacitor pulling cycle, the blade 202 must bewithdrawn so that the capacitor 38 can be deposited on the output strip43 and indexing wheel 46. Therefore driven link 208 is pivotallyconnected by means of a pin 210 to a driving link 212 which in turn issecured to one of the upper puller tool drive bars 106B by fastener 216and also by puller tool shaft 158. Thus, while mounting block 206reciprocates with the lower drive bar 108B, the driving link 212reciprocates with the upper drive bar 106B, which overrides the lowerbar 108B at the end of each capacitor pulling cycle, as previouslydescribed.

When the lower drive bars 108A,B reach the forward limit of theirmotion, and the upper drive bars 106A,B then move forwardly relative tothe lower bars, the driving link 212 (which is mounted on the upper bar106B) moves forwardly therewith relative to the mounting block 206(which is secured to the lower bar 108B). As a result, the drive pin 210causes the driven link 208 to rotate about the axis of pin 205 (seearrow 218 in FIG. 18A). Thus the driven link 208 goes from the solidline position of FIG. 18A to the phantom position thereof. This causesthe pin 205 to rotate about its axis, swinging arm 204 with it. Thiscauses blade 202 to move from the position seen at the upper portion ofFIG. 18A (in which it supports the capacitor head 114), to the positionseen at the lower portion of FIG. 18A (in which it no longer supportsthe capacitor head). Consequently, blade 202 is withdrawn from theposition of FIGS. 10 through 12 to the position of FIG. 13 as thecapacitor 38 is deposited upon the output carrier strip 48 and theindexing wheel 46. A downward ramp 202A which is formed at the tip ofthe blade 202 facilitates this final withdrawal of the blade.

During the subsequent rearward return of the puller tool drive bars 106and 108, the blade 202, arm 204, shaft 205 and driven link 208 arereturned to their initial positions by the retraction of the upper drivebar 106B relative to the lower drive bar 108B, which occurs when therocking drive link 146 returns to the position illustrated in FIG. 23 aspreviously described.

During this concluding phase of the capacitor extraction operation thewithdrawal rotation of the puller tool 110 (illustrated in FIG. 13)lifts the restraining bar 128 from the upper surface of the capacitorleads 116. At this point a third capacitor restraining means in the formof an upper blade 230 is applied over the upper surface of the capacitorleads 116 to take the place of the bar 128, and thus to keep thecapacitor from falling off the indexing wheel 46. See FIGS. 1-4B, 13,and 17A. This blade 230 is secured (by a bolt 231; see FIG. 17C) at theend of a carrier arm 232 which is secured to an angle arm 234 by meansof fasteners 236. The arms 232 and 234 pivot (see arrow 247) as a unitabout a pin 238 supported upon a block 240 (FIGS. 17A-C). The block 240is secured by bolts 241 to bracket 242, which in turn is secured to thefront plate 30 by a bracket 244 (FIGS. 2-4). An upright extension 234Aof arm 234 has an adjustable bolt 246 threaded therein, which receivesan impact to cause pivotal motion of arms 232 and 234 about pivot 238.Another bolt 247 (FIG. 17C) is threaded in the block 240 and isadjustable to establish the limit position of arm 234 when the latterpivots in response to such impact.

When the puller tool drive mechanism reaches the forward extremity ofits stoke, block 206 (FIGS. 18A, B and C), secured to the puller tooldrive bar 108B by bolts 207 strikes against the impact bolt 246. (Seealso FIG. 17A) This causes the extension 234A and arms 234 and 232 torotate about pivot pin 238. Such rotation brings the upper restrainingtongue 230 into operative position against the top surface of thecapacitor leads 116 (see arrow 248).

The indexing wheel 46 is provided with flanges 250 and 252 on eitherside thereof, which define therebetween a depressed central track 254within which the output carrier strip 48 is nested. See FIGS. 13 and21A. The flanges 250 and 252 are provided with pairs of grooves 256 and257 respectively (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) which accomodate the pairs ofcapacitor leads 116 so that the leads are able to lie flush against theoutput carrier strip 48 and down within the recessed track 254 as seenin FIG. 13.

The indexing wheel, driven by a mechanism to be described shortly,rotates incrementally in the direction indicated by arrow 258 in FIGS. 1and 2. As this wheel rotates, the entrapment of the capacitor leads 116within the grooves 256 and 257 cause the indexing wheel flanges 250 and252 to drive the capacitors 38 in the direction of rotation of thewheel. As best seen in FIG. 21A, the upper restraining blade 230 issufficiently elongated so that, during the time that bar 232 is rotatedinto operating position and the blade 230 overlies the capacitor leads116, the blade continues to hold down the capacitor leads 116 and thusprevent the capacitor 38 from falling off the indexing wheel 46. Beforethe rotation of the indexing wheel 46 can cause the capacitor 38 toescape beyond the distal end of the blade 230, the capacitor comes underthe restraining influence of guide shoe 56 (FIGS. 1, 20 and 21). Thisshow has an arcuate surface 56A conforming closely to the circumferenceof the indexing wheel 46, and is bifurcated at its upstream end to forma fork 56B with two prongs which straddle the distal end of the blade230. Thus, elements 230 and 56B overlap along the direction of capacitortravel so that, by the time a capacitor 38 comes to the end of the blade230, the capacitor restraining function has been taken over by the fork56B and guide shoe 56.

The guide shoe 56 is movably mounted upon an angularly oscillatingbracket 522. The shoe is biased against the indexing wheel flanges 250,252 (FIG. 13) by a pair of compression springs 520 reacting against ahorizontal forward extension 521 of bracket 522. A stripper bolt 524(i.e., an unthreaded shank with a threaded tip at one end and a bolthead at the other end) passes loosely through the shoe 56 to keep itfrom being displaced laterally from the bracket extension 521. The shoe56 participates in the oscillation of the bracket, causing it to rotatewith the indexing wheel 46 in the direction indicated by arrow 258, andthen return. As a result of this stroke, the shoe moves with eachsuccessive capacitor 38 and holds it in place on the indexing wheel 46until that capacitor comes under the re-taping wheel 74 and is thereforein position to be taped in place upon the output carrier strip 48 bytape 60. This is an additional advantageous feature of the invention,since it makes sure that there is no time when a capacitor 38 can escapefrom the indexing wheel 46 because it is not restrained by either theshoe 56 or the tape 60.

The spring pressure which the shoe exerts does not affect the outputstrip 48 or the capacitors 38 thereon, since the strip and the capacitorleads 116 are nested in the depressed track 254 between the flanges 250and 252. The leads 116 are also captured in the grooves 265 and 257(FIG. 3). The capacitor heads 114, on the other hand, project forwardlyfrom the indexing wheel 46 (see FIGS. 1, 13 and 12), and so are not inthe path of the shoe 56.

As each successive capacitor 38 is indexed within the reach of fork 56Bby wheel 46 (FIGS. 20 and 21), the restraining tongue 230 is no longerneeded to hold down the capacitor leads 116, and indeed it must bereturned to its original position in order to make room for the nextcapacitor. Therefore, arm 204 (FIGS. 18B and C), which reciprocates withthe puller tool drive bar 108B, strikes a rounded surface 232 A of arm232 during the puller tool withdrawal stroke; and this impact returnsthe arms 232 and 234 and therefore the tongue 230 to their initialpositions to await the next capacitor pulling cycle.

Referring once again to FIG. 23, which shows the overall power train ofthis machine, the main drive shaft 170 drives an auxiliary shaft 270 bymeans of a pair of gears 272 and 274. This auxiliary shaft drives a wrapspring clutch 276, which is identical to the wrap spring clutch 190previously described. The clutch is triggered by a solenoid 278actuating a clutch release pawl 280. The release signal for the solenoid278 arrives over a line 282 from a controller circuit 284. The latter inturn is triggered by a signal arriving on a line 286 from a capacitordetecting photocell 288 which is arranged to sense when a capacitor 38has been successfully transferred to the indexing wheel 46.

Each time that the solenoid 278 actuates the pawl 280, the wrap springclutch drives a shaft 290 through a single rotation. This shaft turns acrank 292 which drives a pair of connecting rods 294 and 296. See alsoFIGS. 24 and 25. The first connecting rod 294 is connected by a pin 295and a link 293 to a cradle 299, which is rotatably mounted on a shaft302 in front of the front plate 30 of the machine (FIG. 1). Since thecradle 299 is on the front side of plate 30, and member 290, 292, 294and 295 are on the rear side, the link 293 passes through a window 30Aformed in the plate 30 and establishes a horizontal connection betweenrod 294 and cradle 299. The motion imparted to the cradle 299 by theconnecting rod 294 and link 293 is a ten degree increment of rotation inthe direction of arrow 300, followed by a ten degree return rotation inthe opposite direction. The window 30A is large enough to permit such anexcursion by the link 293. The indexing wheel 46 is pinned to the shaft302, which in turn is journaled on plate 30 to permit indexing rotationof the wheel 46. As the cradle rotates in the direction indicated byarrow 300, a pawl 306 mounted on link 293 imparts the same ten degreeincrement of rotation to a ratchet wheel 308. This causes the ratchetwheel to move through a ten degree increment of rotation in thedirection indicated by arrow 310. The ratchet wheel 308 is pinned toshaft 302, thus causing the ten degree increment of rotation to beimparted to the indexing wheel 46. When the cradle 299 returns tendegrees in the opposite direction, however, the cradle rotates relativeto shaft 302 and the pawl 306 ratchets back over the teeth of wheel 308.Thus cradle 299 does not return the ratchet wheel 308, shaft 302, orindexing wheel 46 to their original positions. Consequently the angularoscillation of cradle 299 is converted to unidirectional incrementalrotation of indexing wheel 46, indicated by arrow 258 in FIGS. 1 and 20.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 14, 15, 16, and 23, when a capacitor 38 is depositedupon the indexing wheel 46, it strikes an impact button 312 mounted on acarrier bar 314. This causes the bar to rotate in the directionindicated by arrows 316 about a pivot pin 318. This pin is journaled inupper and lower portions 319A and B of a support block 319, which ismounted on bracket 242. See also FIG. 1. The pivotal motion of bar 314is coupled to a shutter 320 by means of a cog extension 320A which isreceived within a recess 324 formed in the bar 314. The shutter 320 thenrotates (see arrow 325) about a pin 323 which pivotally mounts theshutter upon support clock 319. The support block is bolted to bracket242 (see also FIG. 1). Rotation of the shutter causes it to beinterposed in the path of light aimed at the photocell 288 by a lightsource 326 supplied with electrical power by a wire 327. Both thephotocell 288 and light source 326 are mounted upon a Y-shaped bracket322 which is secured by bolts 313 to bracket 242.

When the shutter unblocks the light beam, a capacitor detection signalis sent by the photocell 288 over line 286 to the controller circuit284, which then sends a solenoid energization signal over line 282 tothe solenoid 278. The solenoid then releases the pawl 280 and initiatesa cycle of operation of the wrap spring clutch 276, thus causing theindexing wheel 46 to be advanced through a ten degree increment ofrotation. This removes the most recently delivered capacitor 36 fromrepackaging station 47 (FIG. 1), and indexes the wheel to receive thenext capacitor.

Each time a capacitor is detected by photocell 288, circuit 284 alsosends an impulse over a line 600 to an electronic counter 602, whichthus counts the number of capacitors being loaded onto the output strip48. Counter 602 can be set for a predetermined number of capacitors, andwhen that number is reached, counter 602 automatically shuts off thecontrol circuit 166, depriving motor 164 of power and thus shutting offthe machine.

In order to return the carrier bar 314 to its initial position at theend of each capacitor detection and indexing cycle, a vertical impactbail 530 is secured at one end of the bar by a bolt 532 and is formedwith a horizontal extension 530A (FIGS. 1, 14-16 and 21). The extensionis interposed in the path of a drive pin 534 mounted on extension 521 ofbracket 522. The latter is positioned directly above cradle 299, andsecured by a stripper bolt 523 to a block 298, which in turn is securedby bolt 536 to cradle 299 (see FIGS. 23 and 25). Since the cradle 299oscillates through a ten degree excursion during each capacitor removalcycle, block 298, bracket 522, and its extension 521 oscillate with it.The first half of the oscillation causes drive pin 534 to engageextension 530A of bail 530, thus pivoting bar 314 back to its solid lineposition of FIG. 14. This happens at the end of each capacitor removalcycle, and thus restores the initial conditions for the start of thenext cycle.

The output carrier strip 48 comes off supply reel 50 (FIG. 1) and is fedto the index wheel 46 at a location just ahead of the repackagingstation 47. The feed direction is indicated by arrow 49. A guide roller400 is rotatably mounted upon a pin 402 and supported by a link 404. Thelink, in turn, is pivotably mounted by means of a pin 406 upon amounting block 408 secured to the front panel 30. The link 404 is biasedtoward indexing wheel 46 by means of a conventional coil spring 409received within a blind hole formed in the link 404. The spring is incompression between link 404 and an extension 408A of the mounting block409, which receives the opposite end of the spring within another blindhole. Thus the guide roller 400 keeps the output carrier strip 48pressed against the indexing wheel 46.

Strip 48 passes over the top of the indexing wheel 46, so that thesuccessive capacitors 38 are placed on top of the strip. Then the strip,with the successive capacitors 38 thereon, passes under the guide shoe56 and approaches the retaping station 58. The tape 60 used to securethe capacitors to the output carrier strip may be of thepressure-sensitive type, or of the thermal type. It comes off a supplyreel 62 and is fed in the direction of arrow 410 over a guide roller 412to the retaping wheel 74. The guide roller 412 is mounted on a shaft 414journaled in the front plate 30.

As best seen in FIGS. 20 and 25, the retaping wheel 74 has pairs ofgrooves 416 formed across its outer periphery to accommodate the pairsof capacitor leads 116. The wheel 74 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft418 which in turn is supported between two bearing plates 419 and 421.These two bearing plates are pinned together by bolts 417, and arerotatably secured to the oscillating cradle 299 by stripper bolt 523.See also FIGS. 23 and 25. Thus, stripper bolt 523, bearing plates 419and 421, shaft 418 and re-taping wheel 74 all oscillate through a tendegree stroke with cradle 299. This causes the wheel 74 to roll over thetape 60, capacitors 38 and carrier strip 48 upon the indexing wheel 46during each oscillation of cradle 299, for the purpose of pressing thetape 60 into adhesion with the capacitor leads 116 and strip 48.

A bar 298A secured by a bolt 413 to member 298 engages a biasing plunger426 received within a cylindrical recess 415A formed on a bracket 415secured to bearing plates 419 and 421 by bolts 417. The bracket 415rotates, along with bearing plates 419 and 421, around stripper bolt523. A compression spring 430 surrounds the plunger 426 and is trappedbetween a washer 428 which is snapped into a groove formed on theplunger 246 and a broadened plunger tip 246A. As a result, the spring430 exerts a force on the plunger 426 and thus upon bar 298A which tendsto rotate bracket 415 and bearing plates 419 and 421 in the direction(arrow 431) to keep the retaping wheel 74 pressed against the adhesivetape 60, the capacitors 38, the output strip 48, and the indexing wheel46. The pressure exerted by the wheel 74 serves to force the tape 60into engagement with the capacitor leads 116 and the output strip 48, sothat the capacitors are taped to the output strip.

Dowel pins 604 extend rearwardly from the retaping wheel 74 and meshwith teeth which are formed on rear flange 252 of the indexing wheel 46.In effect, the circumference of flange 252 is greater than that offlange 250; and in particular flange 252 is extended, in the regionsbetween grooves 257, radially outwardly far enough so that pins 604 aretrapped in the grooves 257, above the capacitor leads 116 which are alsoreceived in these grooves. This geared connection between the retapingwheel 74 and the indexing wheel 46 insures that the retaping wheelrotates in synchronism with the indexing wheel.

If the tape 60 is of the thermal type, electrical power supplied by awire 76 (FIG. 1) energizes a heating element 75 received within acentral bore of shaft 418. The heating element thus heats the shaft 418and the retaping wheel 74 to make the thermal tape adhere. Thetemperature of the wheel 74 is read out upon a panel meter 78.

The shaft 418 is held in place by a forked clamp 429. The clamp's forkedend is tightened by a bolt 42, and the clamp is secured to bearing plate419 by bolts 425.

As the output carrier strip 48 leaves the retaping station 58 it entersthe sprocket hole punching station 62. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 19, ananvil 450 is mounted to the front plate 30 by means of bolts 452 at alocation between the indexing wheel 46 and the sprocket drive wheel 64.The anvil is grooved at 450A to accommodate sprocket pins 342, and isalso formed with a recess in which is received an insert 453 formed witha punch-receiving hole 454. A punching tool 455 is driven repeatedlyinto this hole by a driver 456. The latter is mounted upon, and drivenby, longitudinally reciprocating rod 296 (see also FIG. 23), asindicated by arrows 459. The link is connected to the driver 456 by apivot pin 460.

As previously explained in connection with FIG. 23, the rod 296 isactuated once per cycle by the crank 292, shaft 290 and wrap springclutch 276. The timing of the punching operation is such that punchingtool 455 comes down once between each adjacent pair of capacitors 38. Asa result, sprocket holes 469 (FIG. 1) are formed in the strip 48 andtape 60, and later mesh with sprocket pins 342 on the sprocket drivewheel 64.

Springs 348 are connected between the driver 456 and a stripper block462, the purpose of which is to hold down the carrier strip 48 and tape60 as the punch 455 is withdrawn. Guide pins 466 are secured to theanvil 450 and project upwardly therefrom, passing slidably through boresformed in extensions 462A of stripper block 462 and also through boresformed in the driver 456. Thus pins 466 guide the reciprocating motionof driver 456, and also retain the stripper block 462 in place. Thesprings 458 act in compression to keep the stripper block pressedagainst the tape 60 and strip 48 as the punch 455 moves downwardlywithin a bore 462B formed in the stripper block 462 and punches asprocket hole. As the punch reverses its motion and starts upwardly, thesprings 458 initially continue to keep the stripper block 462 pressedagainst the tape 60 and strip 48 so that the punch 455 can pull freethereof. But after the punch has succeeded in pulling free, the upwardmotion of the driver 456 extends the springs 458 to such an extent thatstripper block 462 is momentarily lifted off the tape 60 and strip 48,thus permitting the latter to be advanced incrementally to the nextsprocket hole punching position by the sprocket wheel 64.

As seen in FIG. 23, this sprocket wheel is driven by a gear 334coaxially secured thereto. The sprocket wheel and gear 334 rotatejointly about a shaft 336 (see also FIG. 1) which is journaled upon thefront panel 30 of the machine. Power for the gear 334 comes from gears332 and 311. Gear 332 is journaled upon a shaft 338 which in turn ismounted to the front panel 30. Gear 311 is located behind the frontplate 30 (see also FIG. 25), and is pinned to the same shaft 302 whichdrives the indexing wheel. This positively synchronizes the sprocketwheel to the indexing wheel, since both are driven intermittently by thepawl 306 and ratchet wheel 308. The direction of rotation of sprocketwheel 64 is indicated by arrows 340 in FIGS. 1, 19 and 23.

The output carrier strip is held against the sprocket wheel 64 by aroller 460 which is formed with a groove 472 deep enough to accommodatethe sprocket pins 342. This roller is rotatably mounted by a shaft 474upon a link 476. The link in turn is pivotally mounted by means of ashaft 478 upon a mounting block 480 secured to the front panel 30. Aconventional coil spring 481 reacts between link 476 and an angledextension 480A of the mounting block to keep the roller 470 biasedagainst the output carrier tape and the sprocket wheel. Spring 481 hasits opposite ends received within respective blind holes formed in link476 and extension 480A.

The distal ends of the capacitor leads 116 are not cut away until afterthey have finished serving as a drive coupling to the indexing wheel 46,by meshing with grooves 256 and 257 at flanges 250 and 252. As best seenin FIGS. 22 and 23, a cutter blade 360 is rotatably driven by means of ashaft 361 and a gear 366. Power for gear 366 is taken from gear 334 bygears 362 and 364 (FIG. 23). These gears are rotatably mounted upon thefront plate 30 by means of respective shafts 363 and 365. The cutterblade is secured by bolts 500 to a spacer member 502, which in turn ispinned by means of a pin 504 to shaft 361. A bearing block 506 securedto the front plate 30 by bolts such as 510 cooperates with a bearing 511to journal the shaft 361 upon the front plate 30. Another bearing block508 is mounted rearwardly of the front plate by means of bolt 510 and aspacer 512; and this second bearing block 508 cooperates with bearing509 and bushing 507 to journal the opposite end of shaft 361. The gear366 is connected by key 367 to the shaft 361 and an intermediate bushing514. The severed ends of the capacitor leads 116 (FIG. 1) fall into abin (not shown).

After the cutting operation is completed, the output carrier strippasses under the guide shoe 68, is interleaved with paper ribbon 72, andis wound up upon take-up reel 70 in the direction indicated by arrows492. Reel 70 is driven by a conventional slip clutch (not shown) in thedirection indicated by arrow 494.

The drive train includes a hand wheel 368, seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 23,which is mounted on the end of the main drive shaft 170, and isaccessibly located on the outer side of the front plate 30. When rotatedin the direction indicated by arrow 370, this hand wheel operates theentire power train at low speed. This makes it useful for threading theoutput carrier strip 48 and adhesive tape 60 through the machine at thetime it is initially set up for operation. The hand wheel is also usefulfor trouble shooting, during maintenance and repair.

In setting up this machine the output carrier strip 48 and adhesive tape60 are threaded through the path illustrated in FIG. 1, while using thehand wheel 368 to advance the mechanism. Then the output strip 48 andtape 60 are interleaved with the paper strip 72 and connected to thereel 70. As the strip 48 and tape 60 are threaded through the punchingstation 62, sprocket holes 469 are formed therein due to the operationof the punching mechanism by the hand wheel 368. Once this isaccomplished, the sprocket wheel 64, because of the positive engagementbetween the sprocket pins 342 and the sprocket holes 469, providespositive feed for the strip 48 and adhesive tape 60 during allsubsequent operations of the machine. Moreover, the sprocket drive ispositively synchronized with the indexing of the wheel 46 through theintermittent indexing and advancing mechanism described. As each inputstrip 34 is fed into the machine, the capacitor pulling mechanism cyclesonce for each capacitor detected and extracted from the input strip. Theindexing wheel 46 and sprocket drive wheel 64 advance intermittently,and each step in the advance is undertaken only when a capacitor hasbeen successfully extracted from the input strip 34 and loaded onto theoutput strip 48 and the indexing wheel 46. In this way, the capacitors38, although initially arranged with capacitorless gaps 80 therebetweenon the input strip 34, are nevertheless retaped without any such gaps onthe output strip 48.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or centralcharacteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments,therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details givenherein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A machine for repackaging components,comprising:means for receiving an input carrier having at least onecomponent releasably secured thereto, said component including at leastone lead; a repackaging station; means for advancing an output carrierstrip length-wise through said repackaging station, said strip having awidth smaller than the length of said component lead; said stripadvancing means including indexing means in juxtaposition with saidstrip and motive means for displacing said indexing means lengthwise ofsaid strip; means for removing said component from said input carrierand depositing it upon the portion of said strip which is juxtaposed tosaid indexing means; means for securing said component to said strip;means for advancing said strip in response to said displacement of saidindexing member; means, located adjacent the path of advancement of saidstrip and downstream of said repackaging station relative to thedirection of said advancement, for forming sprocket holes in said stripat lengthwise-spaced locations thereon; sprocket drive means locatedadjacent said path and downstream of said sprocket hole forming meansrelative to said direction of advancement, said sprocket drive meanshaving sprocket pin means adapted to engage successive ones of saidsprocket holes and means for displacing said sprocket pin means toassist in said advancement of said strip; and means, located adjacentsaid path and downstream of said sprocket drive means relative to saiddirection of advancement, for severing said lead close to one edge ofsaid strip.
 2. A machine for repackaging components, comprising:meansfor receiving an input carrier having at least one component releasablysecured thereto, said component including at least one lead; arepackaging station; means for advancing an output carrier striplengthwise through said repackaging station, said strip having a widthsmaller than the length of said component lead; said strip advancingmeans including indexing means in juxtaposition with said strip andmotive means for displacing said indexing means lengthwise of saidstrip; the surface of said indexing means which is juxtaposed to saidstrip having a dimension widthwise of said strip which is greater thanthe width of said strip, and having groove means extending across saidjuxtaposed surface thereof in a direction widthwise of said strip andposition on each side of said strip; means for removing said componentfrom said input carrier and depositing it upon the portion of said stripwhich is juxtaposed to said indexing means with said component leadoriented widthwise of said strip and extending beyond both edges of saidstrip and received within said groove means on both sides of said stripwhereby said indexing means is coupled to said component; means forsecuring said component to said strip whereby said component contributesto the advancement of said strip in response to said displacement ofsaid indexing member; means, located adjacent the path of advancement ofsaid strip and downstream of said repackaging station relative to thedirection of said advancement, for forming sprocket holes in said stripat lengthwise-spaced locations thereon; sprocket drive means locatedadjacent said path and downstream of said sprocket hole forming meansrelative to said direction of advancement, said sprocket drive meanshaving sprocket pin means adapted to engage successive ones of saidsprocket holes and means for displacing said sprocket pin means toassist in said advancement of said strip; and means, located adjacentsaid path and downstream of said sprocket drive means relative to saiddirection of advancement, for severing said lead close to one edge ofsaid strip.
 3. A machine for repackaging components, comprising:meansfor receiving an input carrier having at least one component releasablysecured thereto; a repackaging station; means for advancing an outputcarrier strip lengthwise through said repackaging station; said stripadvancing means including indexing means adapted to underlie said stripin said repackaging station, means oscillating through a selectedangular stroke, and unidirectional transmission means connecting saidoscillating means to advance said indexing means through a selectedincrement for each half cycle of said oscillating means; means forremoving said component from said input carrier and depositing it uponsaid output carrier strip within said repackaging station; meansdispensing adhesive tape to secure said component to said output carrierstrip; retaping wheel means; means rotatably mounting said retapingwheel means over said adhesive tape, component, output carrier strip,and indexing means; and means connecting said retaping wheel mountingmeans to said oscillating means to cause said retaping wheel means toroll over said adhesive tape to make it adhere to said component andoutput carrier strip.
 4. A machine as in claim 3 further comprisingmeans connecting said retaping wheel means to said indexing means in amanner to synchronize the rotation of said retaping wheel means with theadvance of said indexing means.
 5. A machine as in claim 4 furthercomprising a gear means connected to rotate in synchronism with theadvance of said indexing means, and means connected to said retapingwheel means and meshing with said gear means to synchronize the rotationof said retaping wheel means with the rotation of said gear means.
 6. Amachine for repackaging components, comprising:means for receiving aninput carrier having at least one component releasably secured thereto;a repackaging station; means for advancing an output carrier striplengthwise through said repackaging station; said strip advancing meansincluding indexing means adapted to underlie said strip in saidrepackaging station, means oscillating through a selected angularstroke, and unidirectional transmission means connecting saidoscillating means to advance said indexing means through a selectedincrement for each half cycle of said oscillating means; means forremoving said component from said input carrier and depositing it uponsaid output carrier strip within said repackaging station; guide meansin said repackaging station adapted to overlie said component to keep itin place upon said strip; means, located downstream from said guidemeans relative to the direction of advance of said indexing means, forsecuring said component to said strip; and means connecting said guidemeans to said oscillating means to cause said guide means to move withsaid indexing means as said indexing means advances whereby to keep saidcomponent in place upon said strip as said component travels downstreamtoward said securing means.
 7. A machine as in claim 6 furthercomprising:restraining means effective to engage said component fromabove when it is deposited upon said strip; said restraining means andsaid guide means being arranged to overlap each other in the directionof travel of said indexing means so said component is not leftunrestrained therebetween.